What is acute kidney injury (AKI)?
Acute
kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that
happens within a few hours or a few days. AKI causes a build-up of waste
products in your blood and makes it hard for your kidneys to keep the right
balance of fluid in your body. AKI can also affect other organs such as the
brain, heart, and lungs. Acute kidney injury is common in patients who are in
the hospital, in intensive care units, and especially in older adults.